High on Life 2 studio says PS5 was always "lead platform", after dropping Xbox exclusivity

Third-party Xbox exclusive games are becoming a rarity. Unlike its predecessor, the quirky shooter High on Life 2 will also launch on the PS5 and PC on February 15th. In a TechRadar interview, Squanch Games CEO Mike Fridley offered candid insights into why the studio prioritizes PlayStation.

Game Pass may help PS5 sales

The original High on Life surfaced on Xbox consoles and PC late in 2022, with Game Pass also featuring the title. It eventually arrived on PS4 and PS5 in June 2023, after its period of exclusivity ended. Regardless, Fridley reveals that the game sold the most copies on Sony’s systems, with Steam in second place. That led the executive to label PlayStation as the company’s “lead platform”.

Besides catering to a larger player base, a multi-platform launch was a cost-saving measure by Squanch Games. It’s avoiding the need to execute separate, costly marketing campaigns.

On the High on Life 2 release date, the title will again be an Xbox Game Pass game. Fridley sees benefits in the subscription service, as it introduces the title to a wider audience. At the same time, he says that “cannibalization of sales” is a factor that publishers need to consider.

The CEO also implies that the more costly service has become less desirable. He explained, “With recent subscription increase on Game Pass, I'm sure they've probably seen subscriber numbers go down a bit.” Gamers who cancelled their membership are more likely to buy the game on the PS5 or PC.

The decline of Xbox consoles

With Microsoft releasing many former Xbox exclusive games like Fable on other platforms, console sales are falling. A recent Game Developers Conference survey illustrated how other studios are reacting. Only 20 percent of developers now express interest in supporting Xbox consoles, well behind the PC, PS5, and Switch 2.

Among other changes, High on Life 2 promises faster-paced combat and the ability to converse with talking weapons. Nintendo gamers will have to wait until April 20th to experience the upgrades.